Choir Charms with Mozart’s The Magic Flute

In this year’s final installment of the St. Vincent de Paul Lecture and Concert Series,  the Thomas Aquinas College Choir performed Mozart’s The Magic Flute last Friday in Moody Auditorium.

The complex opera follows Tamino and his comical sidekick, Papageno — played by Matthew Santos (’26) and Luke Cecchi (’24), respectively — who meet the lovely Pamina and Papagena — played in turn by Bernadette Mohun (’23) and Trinity Duggan (’24) — with whom they fall in love, enduring many trials along the way. Their biggest trial by far is resisting the scheming of Pamina’s jealous mother, “The Queen of the Night,” whose famous aria was performed splendidly by Daniela Martens (’23). The audience delighted in the humorous performances of the supporting cast, especially Papageno’s antics.

Music Director Stephen Grimm (’76) marshaled the voice and orchestral talent of students from all classes to bring the production together. Throughout the spring semester, singers and instrumentalists alike learned three hours’ worth of music — and the singers how to pronounce the German libretto! In addition, the students took charge of costumes and did most of their staging themselves.

“I really enjoyed connecting with people I don’t regularly hang out with, especially the underclassmen,” said Miss Mohun. “I learned a lot about what goes into a production. No one but the Grimms could have pulled such an incredible production out of a hat like that, which is a skill I would love to acquire someday!”